Saliva

Posted On 17 Sep 2007 / 0 Comment

0 Comment

Memphis, with a rich tradition and musical history, was the perfect place to nurture the alternative rock/post-grunge sound of Saliva. The radio-friendly hard rock music the band created struck a chord with audiences. After competing in the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Grammy Showcase competition, where they advanced to the final round in New York City, the group self-released their self-titled debut album which sold over 10,000 copies in their region, prompting Island Records to take notice. Their Island debut Every Six Seconds was released in 2001, followed by Back Into Your System in 2002, which included the chart topping hits ‘Always’, and ‘Rest In Pieces’ co-written by James Michael and Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe. The band toured in 2003, opening for Kiss and Aerosmith. They are currently touring in support of Blood Stained Love Story, released earlier this year that already boasts two top ten singles. We recently caught up with lead singer Josey Scott, and he was kind enough to chat with us.

Saliva was born in September of ’96. Happy Birthday.

That’s right. It’s our 11th anniversary. Thank you.

How did you guys all get together?

Well, I basically went all around to all my favorite bands and stole them out of the projects they were in. (laughs) All the guys Ii wanted to play with. I just went in and kind of snaked them out of their projects.

When did you start singing?

My daddy did music. He was a country gospel singer/songwriter preacher. I kind of grew up idolizing him. I learned it from him, feeding off from him. Then when I started playing drums when I was about five. I was playing on stage in church with him by the time I was six or seven. I then figured out I could sing when I was nine. From that moment on I’ve been singing my whole life.

With your dad being a preacher. How did your family and people close to your family take to your decision to play the style of music you play?

He loved it. He passed away in 1997, but he and my mother have always been really supportive. They told me I may not be a preacher, but I have my ministry. And if you listen to my lyrics you will see that I actually have something to say. We’re not just driveling moronic bullshit. We’ve got something to say. We’re trying to be part of the solution – not the problem.

When does playing music go from being a profession or a job to being a lifestyle?

Hmm. That’s an interesting question. I think you have that or you don’t. It’s kind of like the X-factor thing. You either have that or you don’t. It’s always been my lifestyle. I don’t know any other style of life. Like I said, my household was full of music as a child. My house is still full of music. I guess I’d have to go live with people that are more mechanically minded. I don’t know. I’d have to be on a reality show with people who didn’t do music, because I don’t know what that style would be like. Music has always been my lifestyle. That’s a good question. That’s the first one to stump me in a long time.

So you knew at an early age that music was going to be your life. You didn’t want to be a fireman or astronaut or anything like that?

Absolutely. I went to school at five years old and asked what you wanted to be when you grow up. I didn’t want to answer because I thought that was your final answer. I also thought men had to have babies, too. (laughs) I thought it was so final. I didn’t want to answer. I used to hang out with this kid that was my dad’s assistant pastor. He was like the black sheep of his family. He was like 12 or 13. He had KISS posters, lava lamps, and fishnet hanging from his ceiling. He didn’t go to church. I immediately wanted to be next to this guy and be his friend. We became buddies. And I used to sit in his room and he would let me go through his crates of albums – crates and crates of all this amazing rock and roll that I had no idea what I was looking at. He had Boston records, Ted Nugent, AC/DC, Black Sabbath. And then I saw KISS. I saw KISS’ record and I was just mesmerized. They were instantly my favorite ones. And I would pull them out and lay them all out on the floor and just let my imagination run wild. The next week I went to school and the teacher said, “What do you want to be, Josey?” So I went to school the next week with the Destroyer album cover and told the teacher I wanted to be a rock star.

Saliva’s been around since ’96. At what time did you know the tide was turning in your favor?

I think I’ve always had faith. But as far as logistically and materialistically and physically I knew when “Your Disease” went to number one real fast that we were definitely on our way. I knew when “Always” went to number one and “Hero” went to number one that I had kind of arrived. I walked down the street in Times Square and somebody walked up to me and said, “You’re Josey Scott.” And I was like, “Wow”. Here I am this little poor kid from Memphis with no high school diploma, and I’m getting recognized in New York City.

You guys are from Memphis. The city has a rich history for the blues. Did any of that influence the band?

In my opinion, Memphis is famous for rock and roll. Memphis is famous for Elvis. Elvis has always been my idol. I certainly respect the blues. I know that’s where Elvis got most of his flavor. He got just as much from gospel as he did the blues. He got as much from country as he did from gospel. I respect those three genres very much, but it call comes back to Elvis, dude. He’s the king and he’ll always be. There will never be another one. That’s my idol.

Your music has changed from album to album, and in some cases within an album itself. What would you say accounts for that?

I don’t know. Having open ears and open heart and an open mind. I’ve always wanted to do the best music and most beautiful music that I possibly can. Striving to be honest with the fans, you know? If you’re honest with them, they can’t deny you. Even if they don’t like you they’ll say, “Well, I respect you.” People know honesty, especially kids. I love how un-jaded their ears are. I just try to tune in to that and bridge the gap between your heart and mine.

How has your musical influences changed from your first independent release to Blood Stained Love Story?

I don’t think they’ve changed all that much. My basic palate is not rocket science. I mean, like I said, Elvis is my idol. Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue is another idol of mine. The first time I heard Tommy Lee or Jon Bonham play that beat, and the first time I heard AC/DC sing “Back in Black” I just took a little of that and mixed it with the big, beautiful million-dollar choruses,, I heard on pop radio, and mixed a little of that with Beastie Boys and Run-DMC, then colored it in with NWA and grew up around Triple 6 Mafia. It’s just a galvanization of those things. It was just like Elvis would have done if he was me and he was 25 or 35.

How would you describe the typical Saliva fan?

Oddly enough they’re from four to 40 – even older than that. Moms and dads, and of course their kids, but there’s no telling what you’ll get. Some nights it’s five thousand kids and two thousand adults, and some nights it’s five thousand adults and two thousand kids. You never know.

A lot of artists these days seem to have some animosity towards major labels and record labels in general. In some of the interviews I’ve read, you guys have a very positive view of the situation.

Yeah.

What benefits have you seen or think that being on a label like Island has helped you?

I think that bands that have a lot of animosity towards record labels – if you play with a snake long enough, it bites you. You can’t really bitch about that. It’s a fucking snake! You kind of know what you’re getting in bed with when you get here. You have to realize the mission that you’re on. You have to realize what’s really important, and that if you’re focused on the things that you’re supposed to be focusing on like being honest with your fans and really being completely overjoyed with the look on their face when they see you and they sing their songs to you and you sing back to them live, and you get to see the effect your music has had on their lives. One of them comes up to you and says, “Hey, you kept me from blowing my brains out” or “you kept me from slitting my wrists one night because of the song”, that’s a payday for me. No record company could put that in a check for me. Plus, we make our money in publishing and merchandising, and playing live. We get paid plenty. We’re not bitchin’. We’re not trying to be Bill Gates. We’re trying to be that voice that brings you out of that black hole.

You guys have been around 11 years. In today’s music that’s a pretty good track record. The current album has two singles that have made the top ten. How do you explain the longevity of the band?

I don’t know. I told the guys since the very beginning stay focused, keep our head down. Don’t listen to bad press or criticism. They’re going to try and shove us in a box. Don’t let them do that. My daddy told me when I was little there’s two kinds of music in this world. There’s good and there’s music that’s not. You have the choice to make good music.

Currently are you guys working on new material now or are you just touring in support of Blood Stained Love Story?

We’re doing both, actually. We’ve already written about 40 songs for the next record, so we’re well prepared for the next one. We’re going to tour, tour, tour for the next six to eight months; maybe take a little break around Christmas. I’ve got some little things coming up; possibly a movie – hang on for dear life.